Zither.



No. 678,525. Patented my le, lam.

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2 SheetsSheet 2.

H. STEENBOCK.

ZIT H E R (Application ed Apr. 25, 1901.)

(N0 Model.)

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UNiTi-in STATES A Fammi @triest HENRY STEENBOCK, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

ZITHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,525, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed April-25, 1901. Serial No. 57,361. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY STEENBOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city,county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Zithers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved Zither of the class in which the strings are sounded by means of hammers actuated by keys.

By my invention the strength and compactness of the instrument are increased and its construction simplified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of my improved Zither. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan, on a reduced scale, of the .body of the Zither; and Fig 4, a cross-section on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

The letter a represents the resonating-chamber or main body of a Zither having the usual sounding-board a, while openings a2 a3 are provided in the top and also in the front of the chamber. To the sides of the body a are secured the forwardly-projecting arms b,- to the ends of which is in turn secured the bridge c. This bridge is placed parallel to the front of the Zither-body, but at a distance therefrom, so as to leave an intermediate opening d, traversed by a brace or braces b. The strings e, arranged in the usual manner, extend from the bridge cover the opening d and over the sounding-board d to the tuning-pinsf.

g g representthe keys, projecting upwardly from levers g', that turn on a common pivot g3 and have rear cam -surfaces g2. These cam-surfaces engage reverse cam-surfaces h', formed on the front ends of the hammers h,

which turn on a common pivot h2 and pro-v ject underneath the bridge c and into the open space d. Thuswhen the keys are depressed the hammers will be thrown upwardly in t-he opening cl between body a and bridge c, so as to strike the lower sides of the strings stretched across such opening. When the keys are released, the levers and hammers will fall back into their normal position by gravity. By causing the hammers to vibrate within the opening d and to strike the strings from the bottom the height of the instrument need not be increased for permitting the movement of the hammers, and thus great eompactness is obtained.

The damper t' is made in the form of a cushioned bar extending underneath all lthe strings. This damper is also accommodated within the opening CZ and is operated by a hand-lever t', secured to a pivot-bar i2, that is connected to damper 'L' by arms d. It the lever t" is depressed, the damper is raised against the lower sides of the strings, while if the lever is released the damper is lowered off the strings by springs it.

It will be seen that in my improved Zither greatgstrength and compactness are obtained and that all the operating parts are thoroughly inclosed and protected. The front openings d3 also contribute considerably to increase the volume of tone.

What I claim is- 1. In a Zither, the combination of a resonating-chamber with a bridge placed at a distance therefrom, strings spanning the opening between bridge and resonating-chamber, and hammers adapted to oscillate within said opening and to engage the lower sides of the strings, substantially as specified.

2. In a Zither, the combination of a resc-` nating-chamber with a bridge, arms for securing the bridge to the resonating-chamber at a distance therefrom, strings spanning the opening between the bridge and resonatingchamber, and hammers extending beneath the bridge and adapted to oscillate within said opening, substantially as specified.

IOO

bereit a distance therefrom, strings spanning State of New York, this 24:13h day of Apri, the opening` between the bridge and resonat- 1901. ingchambe1,and with hammers and L damper that are adapted to osoillate Within said openl HENRY TEENLGCIX' 5 ing and to engage the lower sides of the Witnesses:

strings, substantially as specied. WILLIAM SCHULZ,

Signed b 1 nie at New York oit f, county and F. V. BRIESEN. 

